Lathe-chuck.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

I. B. GILBERT.

LATHE CHUCK.

APPLIUATIOHFILEDJUNE20,1904

I ATTORNEY 3 SHEETS-SHEET lv INVENTQTR PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

I. B. GILBERT.

LATHE CHUCK.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 19'" HNVENTOR WITNEZ55 ATTQRNEV No. 801,001. PATENTBD 0013,1905. I B GILBERT LATHE CHUGK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1904.

v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

v. 0! ANN -RJWIE.

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WITNESSES:

ATTDRNEY UN TED STATES PATENT orricn.

LATHE-CHUCK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed June 20, 1904. Serial No. 213,293.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LIsRAEL B. GILBERT, a citiaen of the United States, residing at Castle Shannon, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lathe-Chucks, of which'the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has particular reference to that class of lathe-chuck in which the workholder may be adjusted to present different faces of the work to the lathe-tool without stopping the lathe; and the primary object is to simplify, improve, and render more efficient this type of work-holder.

The invention finds embodiment in a holder which is under the tension of a spring for automatically turning or shifting the same from one working position to another; and a further purpose of the invention is to provide for accomplishing the releasing and automatic shifting and relocking of the holder without injuriously jolting or shocking either the work-holder or the locking mechanism.

Still a further object is to provide for so shifting or changing the axial plane of the adjustable work-clamping mechanism as to accommodate it to work of various sizes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a chuck constructed in accordance with my invention, the U-shaped work-holder being turned to position in the plane of the chuck-head. Fig. 2 is an inner end view of the same, the work-holder being turned to one side. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the handle end of the chuck, the handle being removed. Fig. at is a similar view of the opposite edge of the chuck. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the chuck, the work-holder being in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. .5, showing the locking mechanism released and the holder partially turned Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, illustrating the movement of the work-holder and buffer mechanism when shifting from one position to another. Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 9 9 and 10 10, respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the locking-bolt.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the tubular spindle of a lathe, (not shown,) and secured thereto in usual manner is a chuckhead of L form, the lathe-spindle uniting with the back of the long arm or body portion 3 of the head, while the short arm 3 of the latter projects frontWard and is formed with an elongated journal-bearing 4, which is in a plane at right angles to the axis of spindle 2. Fitting this bearing is elongated journal 4, projecting from one end of a U-shaped work holder or cradle, this holder consisting of the opposite heads or cheek-plates 5 and 6 and the single head-connecting rib or side member 7. The extremity of journal 4 projects through bearing 4 and is threaded to receive nut 8, the latter being preferably split or kerfed on one side at 9, with a screw 9 extending into the nut and across the kerf for the purpose of distorting the nutand locking it on the journal.

At the inner side of head 5 is the non-adjustable clamping-block 10, which is preferably rabbeted into the face of the head, as indicated at 10, the block being removably secured by elongated screw-bolt 11, extending through journal 4. Head 6 is slotted longitudinally at 6, and adjustable therein toward and from rib 7 is the headed bushing 12, threaded at its outer end to receive clampingnut 12. This bushing is threaded internally, and adjustable therethrough is stem 13, having opera ting-handle 14 at its outer end. A clamping-block 15 is detachably secured to the inner end of this stem, the block being countersunk to inclose the head of securingscrew 15. The head aperture 15", through Which the screw extends, is preferably somewhat larger than the screw, as shown in Fig. 5, to afford head 15 sufiicient play to permit it to adjust itself to the work when forced thereagainst. The work T operated upon, here shown in the form of a T-coupling or fitting, is clamped between blocks 10 and 15, the inner faces of the latter being curved or recessed to partially embrace and obtain a firm hold thereon. A different block 10 is provided for each form or size of fitting, as by means of this block the work is accurately centered in the holder, the clamping adjustment being accomplished entirely through or by means of stem 13. Various forms of block 15 are provided for the several kinds of work, the block being readily removed, as will be understood. It is desirable that the axis of stem 13 shall be in line with the portion of the fitting which is being operated upon by the lathe-tool, and one object in adjustably securing bushing 12 in arm 6 is to provide for thus varying the axial plane of stem 13. By

referring to Fig. 5 it Will be seen that the axes'of journal 4: and stem 13 are not in line, the latter being farther removed from rib 7 than the former, and in addition to placing stem 13 directly in line with the surface of the work being operated upon a further object of said arrangement is to provide for balancing the cradle within the chuck-head when the cradle is turned with rib 7 out of the plane of head 3, as will presently appear.

A circular plate 16 embraces and has threaded engagement with the inner end of journal t and is fixed to head 5 by lock-pin 16. In the present embodiment of the invention this plate is formed with three inwardlytapering openings 17, which are arranged in the radius of a circle concentric with journal 4, and adapted to engage these openings successively is bolt 18, which operates to hold and lock the work-holder in the several working positions. This bolt is operative in a recess 19, formed in arm 3 of the chuck-head, the outer end of the recess being closed by plug 19. The outer end of the bolt is recessed 01' of barrel form, as shown at 18, to receive and confine spring 20, which bears against plug 19 and holds the bolt normally in inward or locking position. The rear face of head 3 is cored or recessed at 3, and fulcrumed therein on pin 21 is an angular lever having the long arm 22, which projects into the plane of spindle 2, and the short arm 22, which extends through a slot formed in arms 3, and into an elongated depression 18 in bolt 18. A spring 23 operates to hold the lever 22 normally in the position indicated in Fig. 5, in which position it is adapted to be engaged and forced inward by an operatingrod 24: Within tubular spindle 2, the inward movement of this rod operating to turn the lever and disengage bolt 18 from plate 16.

Lathes are commonly constructed with tubular or hollow spindles, like or similar to spindle 2, and rod 24 is simply projected into the tubular spindle and may be moved longitudinally for operating lever 22 by any suitable means. The rod may or may not turn with the spindle, as may be preferred. \Vith the rod positioned Within the tubular spindle it is in line with the axis of the clmclehead, and hence the position of the work-holder may be shifted at any time without regard to the position of the chuck. In fact, the chuck is rotating very rapidly, and hence its position is constantly changing while the workholder is being automatically shifted, it being characteristic of the invention that the workholder is thus shifted for presenting a new surface to the lathe-tool without stopping the lathe.

For automatically turning the cradle or work-holder when the locking means is disengaged, a band-spring 25 is secured at one end at 25 to nut 8, and after being coiled two or three times its free end is anchored at 26 to the chuck-head. When bolt 18 is disengaged from plate 16, as above described, the tension or pull of spring 25 operates to turn the work-holder in bearing 4; until another opening 17 presents itself in line with bolt 18, which the latter automatically engages, thus locking the cradle in the advanced position. WVhen thus turning in response to the pull of spring 25, the momentum of the cradle might become so great as to cause the next locking-opening 17 to pass before the bolt could enter, and to avoid this contingency and to prevent shock incident to such a sudden stop if the bolt should enter .1 have provided means for cushioning and arresting the movement of the cradle which is operative just in advance of the engagement of bolt 18. To this end a sliding check or latch 27 is arranged within cavity 3 of the chuck-head and is slotted at 27 to slide on screw 28. Projecting from one edge of the check are the separated arms 29 and 30, the latter being at the inner extremity of the slide. Arms 29 and 30 are on opposite sides of lever 22, and the check is held normallyin positiontindicated in Fig. 7) by a spring 32. In the present arrangement only three positions are provided for the work-holder, and as the holder is set at the first or initial position when starting on each three-way fitting, it is only necessary to provide for moving the holder to two more positions, and hence only two engagements of the check are necessary. Carried by the cradle in the plane of slide 27 are the two projecting stops which successively cooperate with the check in the manner which I. will now describe.

One of the. branches of-the fitting having been finished by the lathe-tool and it being desired to so shift the work-holder as to present another branch thereto without stopping the lathe, rod 24 is moved inward by any suitable means, (not shown) which turns lever 22 against the pressure of spring 23 and retracts bolt 18 against the pressure of spring 20. The inwardly-moving arm 22 engages arm 30 of check 27 and moves the latter inward over screw 28 and through slot 31, with arm 30 projecting into the path of stops carried by the cradle. \Vith the bolt 18 retracted and the cradle thus unlocked spring 25 operates to turn the latter until one of steps 33 engages check-arm 30, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the momentum of the cradle being sutlicient to turn the check to the position indicated in dotted lines in the same figure; but the recoil of spring 32 is suificient to right the check from the position indicated in dotted lines, and the movement of the cradle is thus inomentarily stopped. During this automatic checking and movement-arresting operation lever 22 is moving backward in response to the pressure of spring 23 (the forward pressure of rod 9A having been relaxed) and engages check-arm 29 and retracts the check to the normal position, (indicated in Fig. 'i,) thus IZO releasing the cradle and permitting it to again advance; but it moves only a short distance and has gained practically no momentum before locking-bolt 18 engages one of openings 17 and locks the work-holder in its advanced position. The elongated depression 18" of bolt 18 permits lever-arm 22 and the bolt to move independently of each other, as the bolt does not resume its locking position (shown in Fig. 5) until after lever 22 has resumed its position shown in said figure.

After the holder has been turned to the third position and the third branch of the fitting reamed, threaded, and faced and the fitting finished the lathe is stopped and the fitting is removed by retracting stem 13. Handle 14L is carried permanently by the stem, and hence greatly facilitates the operation of the latter as compared with the usual practice of picking up and attaching a wrench thereto and detaching the same therefrom. After the work has been removed and either before or after inserting a new blank the cradle is unlocked in manner above described and by means of handle 14: is turned backward to the first or initial position, which operation rewinds spring 25.

'ith the mechanism herein shown and described it will be seen that it is only necessary to stop the lathe for the removal of a finished article and the insertion of a fresh blank, the shifting or turning of the work to present new faces or portions thereof to the lathe-tool being accomplished automatically and while the chuck is rotating at undiminished speed. The releasing and relocking of the cradle is safely and accurately accomplished, it being quite impossible for the cradle to pass a locked position or for the cradle and bolt to so suddenly engage as to impair either of the parts by shock.

lVhile the work-holder is here shown and described as adapted for three working positions, it will be understood that the number may be increased or diminished without departing from the invention.

In the present embodiment of the invention the rotating work-holder is supported entirely at one end by journal 4, with the journal and locking and releasing mechanisms at one side of the chuck counterbalanced by the adjustable clamping means at the opposite side thereof. Asa matter of precaution I prefer to removably secure an outwardly-projecting plate 34: to the end of head 3, the plate having opening 34:, through which extends bushing 12 and stem 13. The plate is not engaged by the parts extending therethrough and in no wise forms a bearing for the cradle, its only func- I tion being to guard against accident in case the cradle should break. In the absence of plate 34 if a fracture should occur in rib 7 of the cradle, head 6 and the clamping means carried thereby would be thrown outward by the rapidly-revolving chuck, the danger in such case being much the same as that incident to the bursting of a fly-wheel; but with the plate in the position shown it would in such event operate to confine the broken parts until the lathe could be stopped.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the several features of my invention, it will be understood that they may be modified or varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination ofachuck-head, a workholder carried by the head and adjustable with relation thereto, the work-holder having a series of securing-points corresponding to the several positions in which it is adapted to hold work to be operated on by the lathe-tool, locking mechanism, lock-actuating means, and a spring operating'to move the holder in the direction of its adjustment when thelock is disengaged therefrom.

2. The combination ofa chuck-head,a workholder mounted to rotate in the head, locking mechanism, means for causing the locking mechanism toengage and disengage the holder, and a spring operating to rotate the holder when the same is unlocked.

3. The combination of a chuck-head,a workholder journaled therein, a holder-propelling coiled spring normally under tension with one end secured to the work-holder and the other end to the chuck-head, and holder-securing mechanism constructed and arranged to release the holder and to again secure the same after it has been moved a predetermined distance by the propelling-spring.

4. Thecombinationofachuck-headaworkholder rotatably mounted in the head, a lock for securing the holder against rotation, a spring for rotating the holder when the lock is disengaged, and lock-actuating mechanism constructed and arranged to operate the look while the chuck-head is rotating.

5. The combination of a chuckhead,a workholder mounted to rotate in the head, the workholder having a succession of locking-points, locking mechanism adapted to automatically engage said points successively, means for disengaging the locking mechanism therefrom, and a spring operating to rotate the workholder when released for the purpose of presenting the next locking-point to the automatically-operating locking mechanism.

6. The combination of a chuck-head, a Workholder carried by the head and adjustable with relation thereto, the work-holder having a series of securing-points corresponding to the several positions in which it is adapted to hold work to be operated on by the lathe-tool, locking mechanism, lock-actuating means, and a spring-held check adapted to be projected into the path of the Work-holder and adapted to yield in direction of movement of the latter for the purpose of checking the IIO movement thereof in ad vance of the engagement of the lock.

7. The combination ofachuck-head, aworkholder mounted to rotate in the head, means for locking the holder in dili'erent positions, a spring operating to rotate the holder from one position to another, and a check constructed and arranged to arrest the movement thereof when moving to a new position.

8. The combination ofa chuck-head, a workholder mounted to rotate in the head, the holder having a succession of locking-points, locking mechanism for engaging the said points and securing the holder in the successive positions, a spring operating to rotate the holder, and a buffer movable toward and from the holder and adapted to be projected into the path of the holder for arresting the movement thereof. I

9. The combination of a chuck-head, a spring-propelled work-holder rotatable in the head, a spring-held lock movable toward and from the work-holder for securing and releasing the same, and spring-retracted lockactuating means movable independently of the locl; after the latter has disengaged the work-holder.

10. The combination of a chuck-head, a spring-propelled work-holder rotatable in the head, a spring-held lock movable toward and from the work-holder for securing and releasing the same, spring-retracted lock-actuating means movable iniilependently of the lock after the latter has disengaged the workholder. a movable check for checking the movement of the work-holder, and an operative connection between the check and said lock-actuating means.

11. The combination of a hollow lathe-spindle, a chuck-head thereon, a spring-propelled work-holder movably mounted in the chuckhead, locking mechanism for securing the spring-propelled holder in different positions of adjustment, and means operative through the hollow lathe-spindle for actuating the locking mechanism.

12. The combination of a hollow lathe-spindle, a chuck-head thereon, a spring-propelled work-holder movably mounted in the head, an automatic lock adapted to engage the holder for securing the same in d ilferent positions of adjustment, and means operative through the hollow lathe-spindle for releasing the holder and permitting the same to respond to the force of its actuating-spring.

13. The combination of a hollow lathe-spindle, a chuck-head thereon, a spring-propelled work-holder rotatable in the head, a springactuated lock adapted to automatically engage the holder and secure it in different positions of adjustment, a check movableinto the path of the work-holder for arresting the movement thereofland means arranged in and operative through the hollow lathe-spindle for actuating the check and for retracting thelocking mechanism.

14. The combination of a hollow lathe-spindle, a chuclehead thereon, a spring-propelled work-holder rotatable in the head, a springactuated bolt for securing the holder in dili'erent positions of adjustment, a lever extended into the plane of the lathe-spindle and connected to the bolt for retracting the same, and an actuating-rod for the lever within and operative through the hollow lathe-spindle.

15. The combination of a hollow lathe-spindle, a chuck-head thereon, a spring-propelled worl -holder rotatable in the head, a springactuated bolt for securing the holder in different positions of adjustment, the bolt having a longitudinal depression, a lever projecting into the plane of the lathe-spindle, an arm on the lever projecting into the bolt depression, a sliding check opcratively engaged by the lever and adapted to be projected into and retracted from the path of the work-holder, a spring operating to turn the lever in one direction, and a rod operative through the hollow lathe-spindle for moving the lever in the opposite direction against the pressure of the spring.

16. The combination of a chuck-head, a spring-propelled work-holder rotatable in the head, a lock for securing the holder in different positions, lock-actuating means, and a spring-held check in the path of the holder and adapted to yield in the direction of movement of the latter for the purpose of cushioning and arresting the movement of the holder as it advances from one locking position to another.

17. The combination of a chuck-head, a spring-propelled work-holder rotatable in the head, a lock for securing the holder in different positions, lock-actuating means, a check slidable toward and from the path of movement of the holder and constructed and arranged to oscillate, and a spring for resisting this oscillation when the check is engaged by the advancing holder.

In testimony whereofl aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISRAEL B. GILBERT.

Vitnesses:

J. W. Nnsnrr, M. J. HosAoK.

IIO 

